Private William Henry Guest 6284, 4th Worcestershire Regiment - Action at Krithia Vineyard

According to the 1911 Census William was living at No.54 Pitfield St, Kate’s Hill, the husband of Esther; the census reveals him to be both a fish salesman and Postman.

A pre-war Regular, joining in 1901, he had seen service in the West Indies, Egypt and Malta with the Worcestershire Regiment before joining the Reserve. Upon expiry of this commitment in 1913, he took the opportunity to join the Section D Reserve; this rendered him likely to be re-called to his Regiment for a further four years on the outbreak of war. In recompense he was paid 6d per day, received quarterly in arrears; a welcome addition to the family’s income.

Mobilised on 5th August 1914, he arrived in France on 14th November 1914 and joined the 1st Bn; he was part of the first reinforcement draft of 40 “rank & file” to reach the battalion on 22nd November when they were in reserve at La Gorgue. The battalion had suffered over 70 casualties since arriving in France three weeks previously.

His service in France was limited to only three months before he was invalided home suffering from Dysentery and frostbite aboard the Hospital Ship Oxfordshire, arriving in England on Christmas Day 1914.

"... HAVING LOST IN THE ATTACK 16 OFFICERS AND 752 OTHER RANKS"

Upon recovery, rather than rejoining his battalion on the Western Front he was included in a reinforcement draft for the 4th Bn on the Gallipoli peninsula where he was killed on 6th August 1915 in the Action at Krithia Vineyard. This attack was calamitous for the 4th Worcesters, the battalion being almost annihilated.

Having no known grave, his name is on the Helles Memorial to the Missing. His name is carved on the walls of Dudley's civic war memorial in Priory St. He is further remembered locally on the memorial in St John’s, Kate’s Hill and on that to the Dudley & District Post Offices Staff in Trinity Road.

He left behind a widow and two young children, Matthew and Rachel.

Note: This story is based on his entry in the book “Dudley’s 1914-1918 War Memorial and the Men commemorated – 2nd Revised & Expanded Edition” by J. B. E. Hale.